Understanding mania in bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic depression, affects nearly 6 million American adults, or about 2.5% of the adult population. Most people with this disorder swing from depression to manic states.

Understanding mania in bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic depression, affects nearly 6 million American adults, or about 2.5% of the adult population. Most people with this disorder swing from depression to manic states.

Mania symptom: increased energy and mental activity

And who wouldn't like to experience this effect? One of the reasons some people with bipolar disorder don't like the mood-flattening medication is that they miss this perk, which almost always ends with a corresponding depression.

Mania symptom: racing speech and thoughts

You know how some people talk and think so fast you can hardly follow what they are saying? During a manic phase, people with bipolar disorder sometimes experience racing speech, racing thoughts, and a flight of ideas.

Mania symptom: dangerous behavior

Experts who deal with people with bipolar disorder tell incredible tales of risk-taking during the manic phase, from inappropriate sexual behavior to stealing cars. Impulsiveness, poor judgment, and distractibility are all hallmarks of mania.

Mania symptom: displaying reckless behavior

We're not implying here that this streaker is bipolar, but people with bipolar disorder can display reckless behavior during a manic phase. They lack the internal censor that tells healthy people how to curb their actions.